Third in a series highlighting those who have chosen careers in horticulture &#8211; &#8220;How did we get here?&#8221; Man can not live on tech alone We are increasingly becoming a society based on technology, however, we must remember that careers in agriculture, forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, agronomy, ecology and other life sciences, will always be necessary. [&#8230;]

<h2>Third in a series highlighting those who have chosen careers in horticulture &#8211; &#8220;How did we get here?&#8221;</h2>
<h3>Man can not live on tech alone</h3>
We are increasingly becoming a society based on technology, however, we must remember that careers in agriculture, forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, agronomy, ecology and other life sciences, will always be necessary. Whether we like it or not, we can’t exist without the natural world around us, and stewarding that by working in the agricultural and life sciences is a noble endeavor.
<h2>It all began with a little tree&#8230;</h2>
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-13601 alignleft lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="612" height="408" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2026/01/tree2.jpg">
Never underestimate your influence on the youth in your life.  Whether it&#8217;s a word of encouragement, time spent learning a skill, or a special gift given, these things can often guide our fate.
Dr. Michael Orfanedes remembers his grandfather giving him 2  small potted trees to plant; a cherry and a maple when he was about 6 years old.  This gift started a lifelong love of plants.  So much so, that in college he majored in biology.
<h2>Roots</h2>
Growing up in Chicago, he attended the University of Illinois and transferred into the Agronomy department following a job he took in a virology lab as an undergraduate.  Upon graduation, he became an extension intern and following that, an agent, specializing in corn, soybeans and 4H, while still living in Illinois.  By this time, Mike had met and married his wife, Beth, and went on to pursue a master&#8217;s degree in IPM, specializing in weeds, followed by his Ph.D. in Weed Management.  However, during his course work he took a tree/ornamental plants class and discovered his passion for trees&#8230;
Mike and Beth relocated to Buffalo, NY where they both pursued their careers in academia and Mike became an extension agent with Cornell University, specializing in vegetables.
<h2>New seeds begin to sprout</h2>
In 2000, Mike and his family (three children by now) moved to South Florida for an opportunity his wife had gotten at FAU. As fate would have it, Mike landed a position as an agent with UF/IFAS Extension in Broward County.  From 2000-2003 he became an ISA certified arborist, and LIAF certified.  In 2005 after a short stint with Davie Planning and Zoning, he realized that he missed education, and returned to Broward Extension.
<h2>Broward County&#8217;s tree ordinance established</h2>
Mike returned just as the new Broward County Tree Trimmer Ordinance was in full effect.  From 2001 &#8211; 2025, Broward County was the only county in Florida out of 67, to require all tree trimmers to have basic education in proper tree pruning based on the ANSI A300 guidelines.
For the next 24 years, Mike distinguished himself in the South Florida green industry in all things trees, from pruning, to grades and standards, acquiring additional certifications in TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification), and <a href="https://www.floridaisa.org/">PPQ (Prescription Pruning Qualification)</a> with <a href="https://www.isa-arbor.com/">ISA (International Society of Arboriculture)</a>.  He has also spent many years supporting programs such as FNGLA, <a href="https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/">GI-BMP</a>, <a href="https://landscapeinspectors.org/">LIAF</a> (Landscape Inspector&#8217;s Association of Florida) and many others.
Dr. Orfanedes is also active educating Broward County Parks employees, especially invasive weed management in natural areas. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHt3mbYQOos">Watch: Managing the Invasive Species on Pine Island Ridge.</a>
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-13603 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="1024" height="688" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2026/01/pine-island-1024x688.png">
<h2>Leaving a legacy</h2>
In his 24 years teaching both Basic and Advanced Tree Trimming Classes, thousands of arborists have been taught to avoid tree abuse and to use structural pruning to develop urban friendly trees. Mike credits UF Professor Emeritus<a href="https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/instructional-videos.shtml"> Dr. Ed Gilman</a> for inspiring him along the way, and Way Hoyt for showing him how it&#8217;s done.
As he nears retirement, Mike reflects on his path into arboriculture noting that, &#8220;If you follow your passion, windows and doors will open and lead you there.&#8221;  And so it has.
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13597 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="802" height="802" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2026/01/Photo-of-MIke-Pam-Cantor.jpg">
<a style="color: #ff0000" href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/2025/08/06/career-paths-around-the-tree-of-life/">Career Paths Around the Tree of Life &#8211; UF/IFAS Extension Broward County</a>

Third in a series highlighting those who have chosen careers in horticulture – “How did we get here?”
Man can not live on tech alone
We are increasingly becoming a society based on technology, however, we must remember that careers in agriculture, forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, agronomy, ecology and other life sciences, will always be necessary. Whether we like it or not, we can’t exist without the natural world around us, and stewarding that by working in the agricultural and life sciences is a noble endeavor.
It all began with a little tree…

Never underestimate your influence on the youth in your life.  Whether it’s a word of encouragement, time spent learning a skill, or a special gift given, these things can often guide our fate.
Dr. Michael Orfanedes remembers his grandfather giving him 2  small potted trees to plant; a cherry and a maple when he was about 6 years old.  This gift started a lifelong love of plants.  So much so, that in college he majored in biology.
Roots
Growing up in Chicago, he attended the University of Illinois and transferred into the Agronomy department following a job he took in a virology lab as an undergraduate.  Upon graduation, he became an extension intern and following that, an agent, specializing in corn, soybeans and 4H, while still living in Illinois.  By this time, Mike had met and married his wife, Beth, and went on to pursue a master’s degree in IPM, specializing in weeds, followed by his Ph.D. in Weed Management.  However, during his course work he took a tree/ornamental plants class and discovered his passion for trees…
Mike and Beth relocated to Buffalo, NY where they both pursued their careers in academia and Mike became an extension agent with Cornell University, specializing in vegetables.
New seeds begin to sprout
In 2000, Mike and his family (three children by now) moved to South Florida for an opportunity his wife had gotten at FAU. As fate would have it, Mike landed a position as an agent with UF/IFAS Extension in Broward County.  From 2000-2003 he became an ISA certified arborist, and LIAF certified.  In 2005 after a short stint with Davie Planning and Zoning, he realized that he missed education, and returned to Broward Extension.
Broward County’s tree ordinance established
Mike returned just as the new Broward County Tree Trimmer Ordinance was in full effect.  From 2001 – 2025, Broward County was the only county in Florida out of 67, to require all tree trimmers to have basic education in proper tree pruning based on the ANSI A300 guidelines.
For the next 24 years, Mike distinguished himself in the South Florida green industry in all things trees, from pruning, to grades and standards, acquiring additional certifications in TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification), and PPQ (Prescription Pruning Qualification) with ISA (International Society of Arboriculture).  He has also spent many years supporting programs such as FNGLA, GI-BMP, LIAF (Landscape Inspector’s Association of Florida) and many others.
Dr. Orfanedes is also active educating Broward County Parks employees, especially invasive weed management in natural areas. Watch: Managing the Invasive Species on Pine Island Ridge.

Leaving a legacy
In his 24 years teaching both Basic and Advanced Tree Trimming Classes, thousands of arborists have been taught to avoid tree abuse and to use structural pruning to develop urban friendly trees. Mike credits UF Professor Emeritus Dr. Ed Gilman for inspiring him along the way, and Way Hoyt for showing him how it’s done.
As he nears retirement, Mike reflects on his path into arboriculture noting that, “If you follow your passion, windows and doors will open and lead you there.”  And so it has.

Career Paths Around the Tree of Life – UF/IFAS Extension Broward County

Third in a series highlighting those who have chosen careers in horticulture – “How did we get here?” Man can not live on tech alone We are increasingly becoming a society based on technology, however, we must remember that careers in agriculture, forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, agronomy, ecology and other life sciences, will always be necessary. […]

Portrait of a Career in Urban Horticulture – Michael Orfanedes

When some people hear the word “agriculture,” they envision cows and plows, but you can pursue many careers in the field, as Citrus County high school students learned. The 2nd Annual Expanding Agriculture: Workforce Seminar opened with a motivating keynote from state Rep. J.J. Grow of Inverness and illustrated numerous agriculture-related career paths students can [&#8230;]

When some people hear the word “agriculture,” they envision cows and plows, but you can pursue many careers in the field, as Citrus County high school students learned.
The 2nd Annual Expanding Agriculture: Workforce Seminar opened with a motivating keynote from state <a href="https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/custom/details.aspx?MemberId=4909&amp;LegislativeTermId=91">Rep. J.J. Grow</a> of Inverness and illustrated numerous agriculture-related career paths students can consider. Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), other colleges and private industry provided talks and learning opportunities throughout the day.
<figure id="attachment_56413" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56413" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-56413 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A man in a dress suit speaks to high school students in Citrus County about agricultural careers. " width="300" height="234" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2025/09/Ag-Workforce_Grow_091525-smaller-300x234.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-56413" class="wp-caption-text">State Rep. J.J. Grow speaks to high school students in Citrus County about agricultural careers. By Brad Buck, UF/IFAS.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
“Feeding people is really, really important,” said Grow, a UF <a href="https://cals.ufl.edu/">College of Agricultural and Life Sciences</a> alumnus who spoke to more than 150 students at the College of Central Florida Lecanto campus. “I have so much respect for farmers.”
But Grow emphasized that, in leadership positions, he ran agricultural businesses that provided support to the farmers as one of many examples he used to explain how students could pursue careers in agriculture without actually being a farmer.
Others included marketing, soil and water science, plant breeding, aquaculture and artificial intelligence.
“Agriculture is the No. 2 industry in Florida, behind tourism. It touches everything,” Grow said. “We all ate breakfast, right? That food comes from farms.”
As a farm-to-table example, America has 45 million acres of wheat. Some people love macaroni and cheese. Macaroni comes from wheat, Grow said.
His speech galvanized the students as they headed out for many hands-on sessions. They learned about artificial intelligence, aquaculture, plant breeding, cattle farming, the equine industry, pest control and much more.
<figure id="attachment_56417" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56417" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-56417 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A county extension director smiles and greets people at an event for high school students. " width="300" height="257" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2025/09/Ag-Workforce_Beckford_091625-300x257.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-56417" class="wp-caption-text">Marguerite Beckford, director of UF/IFAS Extension Citrus County. Courtesy, Asalina Ducey.</figcaption></figure>
Groups of students went to a session on aquaculture, presented by <a href="https://tal.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/eric-cassiano/">Eric Cassiano</a>, associate Extension scientist at the UF/IFAS <a href="https://tal.ifas.ufl.edu/">Tropical Aquaculture Lab</a> in Ruskin. Cassiano told the students that aquaculture is a $170 million-a-year business in Florida.
“By putting aquaculture into schools, we’re able to educate about it as a food source,” he said. “The field of aquaculture is also expanding many avenues for career development.”
<figure id="attachment_56415" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56415" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-56415 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="An agriculture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County, tells students about drone use. " width="300" height="235" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2025/09/Ag-Workforce_Strickland_091525-smaller-300x235.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-56415" class="wp-caption-text">Stacy Strickland, agriculture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County, tells students about drone use. Brad Buck, UF/IFAS.</figcaption></figure>
Students watched and listened as <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/experts/jsstrick">Stacy Strickland</a>, the agricultural agent at <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hernando/">UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County</a> and Tavis Douglass, an associate professor of agribusiness at the College of Central Florida, told them about the importance of drones in agriculture.
“We’re able to get really awesome pictures from these,” Strickland said.
They flew the drones for the students. But Strickland and Douglass also told students they’ll need to study for various licensing exams to fly drones, and there are several licenses. It’s not something you can cram for, they said.
That theme permeated the sessions: Most speakers told the students they must work hard to make a career in agriculture. A panel discussion after lunch emphasized diligence during a roundtable discussion, to the point of taking business calls, even while on vacation. But in the end, it’s worth the effort, all presenters agreed.
“Agriculture really does need you,” Grow said. “Ultimately, it’s your decision.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

When some people hear the word “agriculture,” they envision cows and plows, but you can pursue many careers in the field, as Citrus County high school students learned.
The 2nd Annual Expanding Agriculture: Workforce Seminar opened with a motivating keynote from state Rep. J.J. Grow of Inverness and illustrated numerous agriculture-related career paths students can consider. Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), other colleges and private industry provided talks and learning opportunities throughout the day.
State Rep. J.J. Grow speaks to high school students in Citrus County about agricultural careers. By Brad Buck, UF/IFAS.
 
“Feeding people is really, really important,” said Grow, a UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alumnus who spoke to more than 150 students at the College of Central Florida Lecanto campus. “I have so much respect for farmers.”
But Grow emphasized that, in leadership positions, he ran agricultural businesses that provided support to the farmers as one of many examples he used to explain how students could pursue careers in agriculture without actually being a farmer.
Others included marketing, soil and water science, plant breeding, aquaculture and artificial intelligence.
“Agriculture is the No. 2 industry in Florida, behind tourism. It touches everything,” Grow said. “We all ate breakfast, right? That food comes from farms.”
As a farm-to-table example, America has 45 million acres of wheat. Some people love macaroni and cheese. Macaroni comes from wheat, Grow said.
His speech galvanized the students as they headed out for many hands-on sessions. They learned about artificial intelligence, aquaculture, plant breeding, cattle farming, the equine industry, pest control and much more.
Marguerite Beckford, director of UF/IFAS Extension Citrus County. Courtesy, Asalina Ducey.
Groups of students went to a session on aquaculture, presented by Eric Cassiano, associate Extension scientist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab in Ruskin. Cassiano told the students that aquaculture is a $170 million-a-year business in Florida.
“By putting aquaculture into schools, we’re able to educate about it as a food source,” he said. “The field of aquaculture is also expanding many avenues for career development.”
Stacy Strickland, agriculture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County, tells students about drone use. Brad Buck, UF/IFAS.
Students watched and listened as Stacy Strickland, the agricultural agent at UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County and Tavis Douglass, an associate professor of agribusiness at the College of Central Florida, told them about the importance of drones in agriculture.
“We’re able to get really awesome pictures from these,” Strickland said.
They flew the drones for the students. But Strickland and Douglass also told students they’ll need to study for various licensing exams to fly drones, and there are several licenses. It’s not something you can cram for, they said.
That theme permeated the sessions: Most speakers told the students they must work hard to make a career in agriculture. A panel discussion after lunch emphasized diligence during a roundtable discussion, to the point of taking business calls, even while on vacation. But in the end, it’s worth the effort, all presenters agreed.
“Agriculture really does need you,” Grow said. “Ultimately, it’s your decision.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

When some people hear the word “agriculture,” they envision cows and plows, but you can pursue many careers in the field, as Citrus County high school students learned. The 2nd Annual Expanding Agriculture: Workforce Seminar opened with a motivating keynote from state Rep. J.J. Grow of Inverness and illustrated numerous agriculture-related career paths students can […]

Citrus County high school students learn importance of passion and hard work in careers in agriculture – the No. 2 industry in Florida

Anyone who has ever visited Florida knows it has a special charm to it. It has a certain feeling that makes you want to come back again and again. Living in Indiana, I did not get to experience this sentiment until I came to Sarasota for the summer. I had the pleasure of completing a [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_34203" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34203" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-34203 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="emma lonnberg, an intern at uf/ifas extension sarasota county, stands outside in front of an office sign." width="250" height="268" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/in-front-of-ifas-sign-280x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34203" class="wp-caption-text">My first week at the office, standing in front of the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County sign</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_34273" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34273" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_25051.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-34273 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="turtle beach, fronting the gulf of mexico, in sarasota county." width="250" height="188" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_25051-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34273" class="wp-caption-text">White sands on Turtle Beach, along the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota County.</figcaption></figure>
Anyone who has ever visited Florida knows it has a special charm to it. It has a certain feeling that makes you want to come back again and again. Living in Indiana, I did not get to experience this sentiment until I came to Sarasota for the summer.
I had the pleasure of completing a 12-week internship at the <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County</a> office. I met amazing people and experienced things that I never had the opportunity to experience back in my home state. Sure, the beaches were incredible! Usually this is the first thing I get asked about when I tell people I interned in Florida. However, there is so much more to the area than its beaches, which I was lucky enough to explore.
I built incredible relationships during my time in Sarasota. From the people in my office to the other county interns and on to the larger community, I met so many people who are eager to help others. Everyone&#8217;s helpfulness to make me feel comfortable in an area I was not familiar with was amazing to experience. This is something I am so grateful for, because part of my internship involved community outreach.  Knowing Sarasota County better helped me be successful in my role as an environmental education and outreach intern.
<h3 style="clear: both">Experiences</h3>
<figure id="attachment_34205" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34205" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_2207.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-34205 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A group of roseate spoonbills stand in a shallow marsh canal." width="250" height="254" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_2207-296x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34205" class="wp-caption-text">A &#8220;bowl&#8221; of roseate spoonbills wade in shallow water at Red Bug Slough Preserve in Sarasota County.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_34275" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34275" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_25681.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-34275 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A picture of a spring." width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/thumbnail_IMG_25681-225x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34275" class="wp-caption-text">People enjoying the water at Crystal River Wildlife Refuge</figcaption></figure>
I also got to explore the many wonderful natural environments in and around Sarasota County, from the beaches to the springs, to the hiking trails. One of my favorite places I visited has to be <a href="https://www.sarasotacountyparks.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/530/6738?npage=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Red Bug Slough Preserve</a>. This preserve has several miles of hiking trails, and, along the couple miles I walked, I saw an abundance of the most amazing birds, some that I was seeing for the first time in my life. I spotted great blue herons, a group of wood storks, red-shouldered hawks, and a bowl of spoonbills (and, yes, a group of roseate spoonbills is called a &#8220;bowl&#8221;).
Another place of note that I got to visit is <a href="https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/rainbow-springs-state-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rainbow Springs State Park</a>. Located two and a half hours north of Sarasota, Rainbow Springs is the fourth-largest spring in Florida, featuring crystal-clear water which makes it a popular destination for tubing and kayaking. Tubing was a goal for me and my roommates when we visited, and it did not disappoint. We drifted down the spring looking down in the water at the seagrass, observing the birds flying over our heads, and at the otters that playfully passed by. We also got to visit another spring nearby, located in <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/crystal-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge</a>, where manatees take shelter in the wintertime.
<h3 style="clear: both">Learning about 4-H</h3>
<figure id="attachment_34207" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-34207" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/Display-5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-34207 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Campers playing a river crossing game during summer camp at Myakka River State Park" width="250" height="188" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/Display-5-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-34207" class="wp-caption-text">Campers playing a river crossing game during summer camp at Myakka River State Park</figcaption></figure>
As a <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4-H</a> intern, of course I learned about 4-H. Apparently, it is more than just livestock and going to the fair. Prior to this internship, I thought that is all it was. The only times I had interacted with 4-H before this summer were at the state fair seeing all of the 4-H’ers sitting next to or showing their livestock and my mom’s few sewing projects that she did when she was involved with 4-H in Indiana.
I quickly learned all that 4-H encompasses and how much of it interests me. During the course of my time in Sarasota working at the UF/IFAS Extension office, I had the opportunity to help out at the 4-H <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development/4-h-exploring-your-environment-summer-camp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exploring Your Environment summer camp</a>. This was one of my favorite parts of my internship. I not only got to explore different environments and ecosystems, but I got to teach campers about it. My hope is to get them excited and curious about where they live.
<h3 style="clear: both">Conclusion</h3>
I had countless of meaningful experiences during my twelve weeks in Sarasota County as an environmental education and outreach intern. The connections I made with others and the skills I developed made this internship invaluable. I am thankful for my time at Sarasota County and at the UF/IFAS Extension office. Using what I learned, I am excited to grow both professionally and personally as I navigate new experiences and opportunities.
<hr style="width:60%" />
To learn more about the Sarasota County internship opportunities, visit <a href="https://www.scgov.net/government/internships" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scgov.net/government/internships</a>
To learn more about 4-H in Sarasota, visit <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development</a>

My first week at the office, standing in front of the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County sign
White sands on Turtle Beach, along the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota County.
Anyone who has ever visited Florida knows it has a special charm to it. It has a certain feeling that makes you want to come back again and again. Living in Indiana, I did not get to experience this sentiment until I came to Sarasota for the summer.
I had the pleasure of completing a 12-week internship at the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County office. I met amazing people and experienced things that I never had the opportunity to experience back in my home state. Sure, the beaches were incredible! Usually this is the first thing I get asked about when I tell people I interned in Florida. However, there is so much more to the area than its beaches, which I was lucky enough to explore.
I built incredible relationships during my time in Sarasota. From the people in my office to the other county interns and on to the larger community, I met so many people who are eager to help others. Everyone’s helpfulness to make me feel comfortable in an area I was not familiar with was amazing to experience. This is something I am so grateful for, because part of my internship involved community outreach.  Knowing Sarasota County better helped me be successful in my role as an environmental education and outreach intern.
Experiences
A “bowl” of roseate spoonbills wade in shallow water at Red Bug Slough Preserve in Sarasota County.
People enjoying the water at Crystal River Wildlife Refuge
I also got to explore the many wonderful natural environments in and around Sarasota County, from the beaches to the springs, to the hiking trails. One of my favorite places I visited has to be Red Bug Slough Preserve. This preserve has several miles of hiking trails, and, along the couple miles I walked, I saw an abundance of the most amazing birds, some that I was seeing for the first time in my life. I spotted great blue herons, a group of wood storks, red-shouldered hawks, and a bowl of spoonbills (and, yes, a group of roseate spoonbills is called a “bowl”).
Another place of note that I got to visit is Rainbow Springs State Park. Located two and a half hours north of Sarasota, Rainbow Springs is the fourth-largest spring in Florida, featuring crystal-clear water which makes it a popular destination for tubing and kayaking. Tubing was a goal for me and my roommates when we visited, and it did not disappoint. We drifted down the spring looking down in the water at the seagrass, observing the birds flying over our heads, and at the otters that playfully passed by. We also got to visit another spring nearby, located in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, where manatees take shelter in the wintertime.
Learning about 4-H
Campers playing a river crossing game during summer camp at Myakka River State Park
As a 4-H intern, of course I learned about 4-H. Apparently, it is more than just livestock and going to the fair. Prior to this internship, I thought that is all it was. The only times I had interacted with 4-H before this summer were at the state fair seeing all of the 4-H’ers sitting next to or showing their livestock and my mom’s few sewing projects that she did when she was involved with 4-H in Indiana.
I quickly learned all that 4-H encompasses and how much of it interests me. During the course of my time in Sarasota working at the UF/IFAS Extension office, I had the opportunity to help out at the 4-H Exploring Your Environment summer camp. This was one of my favorite parts of my internship. I not only got to explore different environments and ecosystems, but I got to teach campers about it. My hope is to get them excited and curious about where they live.
Conclusion
I had countless of meaningful experiences during my twelve weeks in Sarasota County as an environmental education and outreach intern. The connections I made with others and the skills I developed made this internship invaluable. I am thankful for my time at Sarasota County and at the UF/IFAS Extension office. Using what I learned, I am excited to grow both professionally and personally as I navigate new experiences and opportunities.
scgov.net/government/internships
To learn more about 4-H in Sarasota, visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development

Anyone who has ever visited Florida knows it has a special charm to it. It has a certain feeling that makes you want to come back again and again. Living in Indiana, I did not get to experience this sentiment until I came to Sarasota for the summer. I had the pleasure of completing a […]

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